Run-off election settles council seats

November 29, 2012

Benton Alderman Brad Moore is congratulated by his father, Lynn Moore, after winning a fifth term on the Benton City Council. Moore defeated challenger David Sparks by a vote spread of 201 to 117 in Tuesday's runoff election. Photo by Lynda Hollenbeck.

It took another election, but finally all of the municipal positions in Saline County have been decided.
In Tuesday's runoff election, Benton Alderman Brad Moore won a fifth term on the Benton City Council by defeating David Sparks in the race for the Ward 4, Position 1 seat on the 10-member panel.
Unofficial tallies from County Clerk Linda Montalvo's office gave Moore 201 votes to 117 for Sparks. Those numbers represented 63.21 percent for Moore and 36.79 percent for Sparks.
In the clerk's office Tuesday night after the votes had been tabulated, Moore expressed appreciation to those who supported him.
"There were a lot of people involved in the campaign, and we both (Sparks and Moore) ran a clean, positive campaign.
"Win or lose, I knew we would have a lot to be proud of," Moore said. "It's hard to beat hard work."
Moore, however, was disappointed in the voter turnout. Of the 3,800 registered voters in Ward 4, only 3 percent voted "to make the decision for the majority."
Sparks, who has served on the council for the past eight years, said today that he believes he was "a good public servant."
"We got a lot of good things done and I'm excited about where the council is going," he said. "It's not negative, but all positive. There's some new blood on the council along with the older ones, so I think the city will grow.
"I wish the city the best," he added. "I think we'll be going forward."
Sparks currently holds the Ward 4, Position 2 seat on the council, but chose to run for Position 1.
James Herzfeld was the only person who sought Position 2.
In the other municipal races determined in Tuesday's runoff election, Alderman James Frala retained his position on the Shannon Hills Council.
Frala defeated challenger Brenda McCann in the race for the Ward 1, Position 1, seat by a vote spread of 82 to 42. That total gave Frala 66.13 percent of the total votes cast.
In Alexander, two aldermanic posts and the recorder position were decided Tuesday.
Stephanie Beck defeated Brad Scott for the Ward 2, Position 1 seat by a vote spread of 73 to 64, representing 53.28 percent of the total votes for Beck; and Lonny Chapman defeated Robin D. Altman in the race for the Ward 4, Position 2 seat.
Chapman drew 101 votes, or 72.66 percent, and Altman received 38 votes, or 27.34 percent.
Also decided Tuesday was the Alexander recorder position. Shelley Maynard won the post by defeating Michelle T. Doss-Kid by a vote spread of 73 to 65. Maynard drew 52.90 percent of the total votes cast.